Ep. 5-6: The Plot Thickens in ‘When the Phone Rings’

After two weeks, fans finally got their two episodes of the K-drama ‘When the Phone Rings’ filled with revelations, mystery, and heart-warming romance.

It was a really long wait after the fourth episode ended on the cliffhanger of Baek Sa Eon finding Hong Hee Joo on the terrace with the kidnapper’s phone. He does not discover the truth then, but so much happens in these episodes. 

The development of the romantic plot was good in these two episodes; the lead couple still plays with the viewers’ heartstrings, especially Sa Eon’s considerate gestures. These two episodes were really about Sa Eon proving himself to Hee Joo as a good husband. During his call with 406, he says, “Sincerity, attention, understanding. I can give that to her. I can give her everything.” He makes this promise to make up for the past three years when he has failed to form an emotional bond with his wife.

However, there should be more flashbacks from those three years to explain this emotional disconnect. There was one in the earlier episodes, but since then there have been more flashbacks from their childhood. The revelation of the childhood connection the couple has helps the romance flourish in these two episodes. Nevertheless, why have they not been able to bond with this basis for the past three years is befuddling.

The emotional distance does not hinder anything, but it comes off as strange when Sa Eon starts learning sign language after three years, especially when he claims to have found comfort in watching Hee Joo using sign language during their childhood. If he cared so much, he should have mastered sign language by now. The writer Kim Ji Woon should have created a smaller time lapse since their marriage, of six months or one year, to make Sai Eon’s lack of knowledge about sign language more reasonable.

Although Hee Joo is highlighted through Sa Eon’s perspective in these episodes, there is also a focus on breaking her from her shell. Her confrontation with In-a emphasizes that she is done being controlled, which makes one curious about what she will do next. She has tried taking her fate into her own hands by playing Sa Eon through the phone calls, but it has only trapped her further into the web of her own lies. Nonetheless, the phone calls have helped create some understanding between the distant couple, which is bound to affect her plans.

The subplot of Sang Woo and Yu-ri’s investigation of the abandoned home and the missing orphans is picked up in these two episodes, which intensifies the mystery in this subplot and creates curiosity about this case’s connection with the main plotline. It seems to have a connection with Hee Joo’s kidnapper who makes an appearance in these two episodes, but he seems to be controlled by someone else, which increases the viewer’s curiosity about who is really after Sa Eon and Hee Joo. The purpose is unknown, nevertheless, the unknown person has helped the couple get closer in his or her own way.

Episodes 5 and 6  of ‘When the Phone Rings’ further developed the story on all fronts, keeping viewers hooked and curious to know what is about to happen next.